Tufting-table.



3o broken away to disclose the spreader.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EARNEST HOLLATZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TU FTlNG-TAB LE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,147, dated August 6, 1901. Application iiled March 2, 1901. Serial No. 49,634. (No-model.)

1o which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in tu fung-tables; and it consists of certain novel combinations, constructions, and arrange.

ments of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

One of the objects of my invention is to provlde a tufting-table which may be provided with means for diamond, square, irregular, or any other desired tufting and the zo work be always uniform.

Another object of the invention is the product-ion of means for quickly securing the parts of the upholstery-buttons together and with less labor than has heretofore been nec- 2 5 essary.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a portion of a table embodying the features of my invention, a part of one of the transverse slats being Fig. `2 is a fragmentary View in side elevation with the prongs of the button about to be pressed upon the spreader, and Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the button having been pressed upon the spreader and the spreader swung to one side.

My invention contemplates the provision of a table of any desired size or shape supported by any preferred supports, as 1, se-

4o cured to parallel strips, as 2 2, said strips being united by transverse slats, as 3 3. These slats 3 extend parallel to each other, are spaced apart at suitable distances, and are provided in their edges intermediate their length with semicircular cut-away portions,

as 4 4, on either edge thereof, the cut-away portions of one slat being arranged to come opposite that of the next contiguous slat, whereby a circular aperture is provided beg'o tween the two slats, as clearly seen in Fig.

1. Secured beneath each of said slats and having its edges 1 lying in the same vertical plane as the edge of its respective slat 3 is a strip, as 5, preferably of metal, which has no cut-away portions, thereby forming a base for each of the cut-away portions 4 of the slats 3, whereby a disk, as 6, may be supported within said cut-away portion.

Centrally beneath each of the circular apertures formed by the registering of two cutaway portions 4 I preferably provide a spreader, which comprises a handle, as 7, a

vbar or support, as 8, secured transversely of the space, as 9, between strips 5 5 and held by any preferred supporting means, as 10. A strip of material, as 11, is secured to said handle 7 and passed over said support S, whereby said handle may swing longitudinally of space 9. All of these parts may be of metal or other material, as desired.

The operation of thedevice will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The disks 6, forming part of the securing-button, are distributed to all of the circular apertures of the'table and the fabrics to be secured spread over the same. A 'cutting-button, as 12, of any preferred type, provided with prongs, as 13 and 14, is taken by the operator and its prongs pressed through the said fabrics and through the central aperture in the disk 6, the handle 7 of the spreader being in its normal vertical position. At this point of the operation the parts Will present the appressure on the head of button 12 will cause prongs 13 and 14 to pass on 'either side of the' spreader. The operator next grasps handle 7 and forces it to one side, bending one of the prongs in one direction, as shown in Fig. 3, and then swings the said handle to the opposite side, producing the same eect upon the opposite prong, thereby uniting the parts of said button and forcing disk 6 tightly against the lower fabric. It will be seen that this operation will take but a comparatively short time vand the result be effectual and highly satisfactory, the entire fabric to be tufted being spread at one time upon'the table and operated upon without being removed until completed.

Although I have described in detail one particular embodiment of my invention, yet I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact construction specified, but

shall feel at liberty to deviate from the'precise form, size, shape, and minor details of construction within the spirit and scope of my invention.

A great advantage will be seen in' the provision of a swinging spreader-arm centrally beneath said circular apertures, ma'king said arm beveled at its upper end in two directions, as illustrated in the drawings, and providing an arm, as Il contemplate providing, of a width just sufficient to pass between the longitudinal apertures 9, for thereby when the prongs of a tufting-button are pressed upon the upper end ot' said arm they will naturally spread and fit snugly said beveled portions, whereby a swing of said arm from a vertical position to a horizontal plane on one side of its pivot and a swing from said horizontal position to a horizontal position on the other side of its pivot will iirmly clamp the prongs of said tufting-button against the dis'k thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, iS-

l. A tufting-table comprising in its construction supporting means, a series of slats supported thereby'and spaced apart, thereby leaving a longitudinal aperture between said slats, and means beneath said apertures for securing the parts of a tufting-button, substantially as described.

2. A tufting-table comprising in its coustruction supporting means, a plurality of parallel slats supported thereby and spaced apart to form longitudinal apertures therebetween, a strip of material secured beneath each of said slats and partially filling said aperture, and means supported by said lower strip for securing the parts of a tufting-button, substantially as described.

3. A tufting-table comprising in its construction a plurality ot' slats formed with cutaway portions in their edges intermediate their length adapted to receive the disk portion of a tufting-button, means for supporting said disk within said cut-away portion, and means beneath said cut-away portion for securing the parts of said tufting-button, substantially as described.

4. A tufting-table comprising in its construction a plurality ot slats formed with semicircular cut-away portions in their edges intermediate their length, the cut-away portions of` one of said slats being adapted to vdisks of tufting-buttons, means for securing register with those of the next contiguous, whereby a circular aperture is formed, said slats being spaced apart forming longitudinal apertures, a strip of material secured beueath each of said slats having its edges in the same vertical plane as the edges of its Y respective slat except at-the cut-away portions, whereby said lower strip is adapted to form a bottom for said cut-away portions -for supporting the disk of va tufting-button, and means centrally beneath said circular apertures for spreadingthe prongs `of a tuftingbutton', substantially as described.

l5. The combination with a tufting-table provided with apertures for i receiving the disk'of a tufting-button, of means Vfor spreading the prongs of said button when passed through the central aperture of said disk, comprising a pivoted arm adapted to swing in opposite directions and thereby spread said prongs and secure the parts of said but- .ton together, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a tufting-table provided with apertures for receiving the the parts of 'said buttons together, compris- Ving an arm pivotally secured centrally of each of said apertures and below the same, the upper end of said arm being beveled in two directions from the center, whereby when the prongs of a' tufting-button are pressed upon the upper end of said arm they will spread and tit snugly said beveled portions, thereby permitting said prongs to be clamped tightly against said disk, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a tufting-table button by a swing from the vertical to a horiroo zontal plane and a full swing from the horii zontal plane on one side of its pivot to the horizontal plane on the opposite side, substantially as described.

Intestimony whereof I hereunto affix my 105 signature in presence of two witnesses.

EARNEST HOLLATZ. Witnesses:

GEORGE E. W'IssLER, CHARLES C. SPENCER. 

